American Idol is primarily filmed in Los Angeles, California. The main filming locations include:
- Red Studios Hollywood on Cahuenga Boulevard, where key parts of the competition such as Hollywood Week are filmed
- CBS Television Studios in Los Angeles, where the live shows are held
- The Dolby Theatre and other historic venues in Los Angeles have also been used
In addition to Los Angeles, some rounds and special episodes have been filmed in other locations across the United States, including Asheville, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, and Jacksonville, among others
. Notably, for recent seasons like 2025, some episodes were filmed at the Aulani Resort in Ko Olina, Hawai‘i, where finalists performed on the beach in front of a live audience
. Thus, while the core of American Idol is filmed in Los Angeles at Red Studios Hollywood and CBS Television Studios, the show also films in various other U.S. cities and special locations like Hawaii during certain rounds.
